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PowerBook Rumor Summary - Still Waiting...

Sunday August 10, 2003 7:50 pm PDT by Arnold Kim
On June 3rd, a MacPolls.com poll revealed that 32.89% of readers were waiting primarily for PowerBook updates. Unfortunately, those readers are still waiting... nearly 9 weeks later.



Previous Updates



15" PowerBooks were last updated in November 2002, with the introduction 1GHz machines with the Superdrive at the top end.



12" and 17" PowerBooks were introduced with little warning at Macworld San Francisco in January 2003. Almost immediately, rumors of a 15" PowerBook updates emerged.



(Timeline available at BuyersGuide.MacRumors.com)



Previous Rumors



Numerous sites have suggested 15" PowerBook revisions over the past 7 months: MacWhispers (Feb), SpyMac (Feb), Kodawarisan (March), PowerPage.org (April), MacBidouile (May 14), RailHeadDesign (May), Kodawarisan ( June), MacWhispers (June), DigiTimes (June).



In June, Apple dropped 12" and 15" PowerBook prices, which (in retrospect) may have hinted that PowerBook updates were not imminent.



Rumors peaked pre-WWDC with one site claiming 970 PowerBooks were arriving. No PowerBooks arrived, and one Apple executive finally hinted that PowerBooks would not see the G5 processor "anytime soon".



So When?



Speculation and rumors have placed the Motorola MPC7457 PowerPC Processor into the next PowerBook revisions.



The processor is expected to ship in Q4 2003, and reports from Appleinsider claiming that the PowerBooks have been delayed due to the inability for Motorola to produce enough of these updated processors.



Even with a Q4 ship date expectation, the most recent rumors from MacBidouille (of uncertain reliability) suggest August 18-19th as possible dates for product introductions... however, no other reliable sources have confirmed this timeframe. Beyond these dates, the next major consumer event from Apple is Apple Expo on September 16, 2003 in Paris, France.

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LegionCSUF
111 months ago
Article summery: we still don't know a dang thing. But there was no new unfounded rumor today, so let's recap the old ones.
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MrMacMan
111 months ago
Yeah, lets Re-Cap something everyone wants, and yet, it still isn't out.

arg.

Come on, Apple and Moto, for one of the last time you guys will work with each other (I hope) please just get these OUT already!
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Jerry Spoon
111 months ago
I'm almost thinking we'll see an apple PDA before PowerBook updates ;)
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Billicus
111 months ago
I will get a new computer before next year. I would really like that to be an updated 17" PowerBook. If Apple can't deliver...ah, who am I kidding, what would I buy, a Dell? :rolleyes:

But seriously, where are the frickin updates Apple?
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Billicus
111 months ago

Originally posted by Jerry Spoon
I'm almost thinking we'll see an apple PDA before PowerBook updates ;)


The way Apple has been twiddling their thumbs, they really dropped the ball on this one...:rolleyes: :mad:
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miradu
111 months ago
maybe the recap was posted 'cause arn knows something he can't print.. :D just kidding. I ahve been waiting 3 months to get my new 12 inch powerbook.. i am hoping i can get it before labor day and school starting... I don't want to have to set up a new mac, and switch my life from windows while in school....
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Bruja
111 months ago
I still want to beleive..
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DakotaGuy
111 months ago
My question is that Motorola announced that the new processors won't be released until the 4th Quarter. It's not the 4th Quarter yet, so my guess is it might still be a month or two until we see the Powerbooks or at least until they ship.
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Bruja
111 months ago
Apple appears to be thinking differently themselves. However, it defies logic and some since of "good business practice" if they wish to stay in the black. One last tidbit of thought befor the day is up: Let's say for some unknown reason, the release the updated products. If what they say is true about Moto, Would you really want a janky chip that may cause problems?? Maybe the real answer is to go to e-bay and get a cheaper priced book and wait until this crap is sorted out and this way, it would not interrupt productivity and Apple would kill to release an UP 2 DATE product because their new sales profit has gone through the floor?? Just a thought?? :D
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paulie
111 months ago
I would have paid an arm and a leg for the new Aluminum 15".. My buddy has the Titanium, and I fell in love with the size of that 15" screen. But, too late.. I'm heading off on the road, and I needed a good portable, so I got the 12-inch.

I'm very happy with my purchase, but had Apple brought out a new 15" this summer, they would've made a lot of money off of a lot of people.

*sigh*.. poor Apple..

I did get the 12" PB for the same price as the top-end 12" iBook, and they threw in an iSight for me.. so, didn't really go wrong at all.. ;)
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